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Employees are the most important asset any company has. It’s a simple truth, and it applies to hospitality as much as any industry. They keep the company working. Their skills and abilities differentiate your company from its competitors. And they deliver on your bottom line; value and profits. Whether you’re running a law firm, a construction site, a retail store, or a hotel, your employees have the power to make or break the company. It’s that power that makes them your most important asset, and therefore your top priority.
It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is experiencing a recruitment crisis. Latest research doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Hospitality has the highest turnover rate in the UK, with an average of 37.6% of employees leaving their jobs each year. It’s not looking to improve in the short term either. 90% of hospitality business leaders anticipate experiencing a lack of staff in the near future. In 2023, we saw a 46% increase in hospitality job adverts. That figure alone speaks volumes. We need more people. And once we’ve got them, we need to hang on to them.
With so much competition for this precious asset of people, it’s clear that hospitality employers need to stand out from the crowd if they’re going to attract quality candidates. But how do you become the employer of choice in such a crowded market? You need to create a great workplace. One that not only looks attractive to an outsider but also delivers on a day-in-day-out basis for employees on the payroll. So, what does this positive work environment need to offer its staff?
A great workplace needs open and effective communication channels
Successful communication lies at the heart of any positive working environment. Informed and engaged employees are your most valuable asset. They’re dedicated, productive, loyal and committed to your success. They’re connected to company news, updated with vital information, involved with other departments, and united in their belief in the organisation.
And, crucially, this communication needs to be a two-way process. What is two-way communication? Think of tennis. A great match is one where volleys are traded back and forth over the net. It’s not much of a game if it’s won on serves alone. Similarly, effective communication in the workplace happens when there is a dialogue that goes back and forth between the leadership team and employees, and between employees themselves.
The most effective way to deliver this gold standard of communication is to reach people on the move. We can’t expect hospitality staff, constantly on the go, to log into desktop computers several times a day. That’s why you need to put an app in place, one that reaches out to their smartphones and connects with them around the clock.
A mobile app will allow you to message staff on the fly, with everything from business-critical information to updating their rosters, or just to say hi. Plus, it provides a channel for team collaboration, encouraging the sharing of ideas and building team spirit. It also allows you to check on the health of the organisation, by asking employees what they’re thinking. Regular feedback surveys will help you keep on top of underlying feelings of discontent, and give you a chance to take action before it gets out of hand. Look out for a platform that addresses employee well-being too, with the ability to schedule regular check-ins, as well as more formal1-2-1 sessions. It ensures employees feel heard and supported in their daily roles.
A great workplace recognises achievements and celebrates milestones
“There are only two things people want more than sex and money… recognition and praise.”
These wise words come from Mary Kay Ash, American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. She amassed a fortune of $98 million in her lifetime, so it’s clear she knew what she was talking about. Just a small amount of praise and appreciation will have a huge impact, especially when it’s delivered publicly. And it’s an easy mechanic to build into your employee retention strategy.
Look for a platform that helps you celebrate your staff and their personal achievements. The best apps will allow you to log employee birthdays, work anniversaries and other important moments. It will then automatically post them in the daily newsfeed, ensuring every employee is remembered on their special day. This kind of detail may seem small when you’re looking at the big picture, but it’s that level of personal attention that really connects with staff. If it’s important to them, it’s important to you.
You should also take time to applaud your team's wins. Public praise is a huge positive for those who receive it, and for those who hear about it too. It will bring your team together, strengthen engagement and encourage further success to follow. It’s a simple but hugely effective way to foster a positive working environment of success and achievement.
A great workplace fosters a culture of respect and inclusivity
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is now an essential in the workplace, and we’re all the better for it. It ensures that every employee feels valued regardless of their background, gender, race, or any other characteristic. It goes without saying that this inclusive approach creates a sense of belonging, and leads to greater staff retention.
There are many reasons why companies promote their DE&I policies. Often it’s just to demonstrate compliance and ‘tick the box’. But companies who actively prioritise inclusive ways of working will be more attractive to the diverse pool of talent in the industry. They’ll also benefit from less obvious paybacks, including enhanced customer relations with a diverse customer base, and a stronger sense of social cohesion amongst teams and departments.
How to implement a pro-active DE&I strategy? One of the most obvious routes is to improve collaboration between staff members. Encourage teamwork and sharing of ideas via a mobile platform and you’re halfway there. Be wary of messaging apps like WhatsApp which will put you on the wrong side of GDPR. Instead, put a mobile platform in place that encourages secure interaction between team members. It will also offer a newsfeed, where ideas can be shared and commented on. Collaboration fosters an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and creates a more inclusive workplace for all.
And don’t forget the power of feedback to promote an inclusive workplace. An annual employee survey just isn’t enough to allow staff to speak out, especially with turnover rates as high as they are. So make sure you’re reaching out in a continuous feedback loop, listening to concerns and acting on any negative feedback.
A great workplace invests in employee growth and development
You have to spend money to make money. And investing in your people is a key way to
improve retention, boost productivity and improve engagement. It’s the smart and strategic way to stand out from the crowd in a competitive market. While salaries and benefits are a big draw in the job market, placing a focus on employee development is a definite win-win proposition. Continued growth will benefit everyone involved. And recruitment itself is a significant outlay. Recent research suggests the cost of a new hire is between 30% to 200% of an employee’s annual salary. Once you’ve got your staff on board, you want to make sure you hang on to them.
One of the critical elements to get right with a new hire is the onboarding process. The first three months on the job are crucial, with up to a third of workers quitting during that period. Hospitality as an industry is particularly vulnerable to this issue. This is where a robust onboarding procedure pays back in dividends. However, in a fast-paced industry such as hospitality, companies often struggle to invest the time needed in this critical staff development.
Opt for a solution which offers a highly automated onboarding process. It will save time for your beleaguered HR department. And it will be easier for the employee to undertake, allowing them to work on all the training and development steps at a time that suits them, along with a mobile onboarding process that eliminates paperwork. In today’s job market, professional development has shifted from a pleasant perk to an essential requirement. So make sure you’re giving your employees what they want.
About Alkimii People
Alkimii People puts all your HR requirements in one digital place. It’s a shared platform that provides all the tools your people need to do their jobs effectively, and it keeps them engaged at the same time. It makes your people happy by letting them do everything on their smartphones, and makes interaction easier, seamless, and 100% paperless. And it reduces the time you and your managers spend on people admin. Freeing you up to do the things that matter, like training, forecasting and analysis, and reducing employee turnover.
Find out more at www.alkimii.com/alkimii-people
